Advantages And Disadvantages Of Trade Unions In South Africa

A trade union is an organisation which consists of members, including workers and union leaders who come together to protect and stimulate their common interests. The majority of trade unions are independent of the employer. However, trade unions do try to develop close relationships between employees and the employer. Sometimes, this may take the form of a partnership agreement between the trade union and the employer which points out their common interests and objectives. According to the South African Bill of Rights, anyone is free to join a trade union.

Employers who recognise a trade a union will negotiate with the members over their pay and working conditions. Recognition agreements are usually gained voluntarily, occasionally with the

In 1917, the Industrial Workers of Africa (IWA) which was the first trade union for black workers had formed. The South African Trades and Labour Council (SATLC) had brought together most of the country by the 1930s. The SATLC was not based on racial discrimination but instead it had accepted associations with black trade unions. The SATLC had consisted of some black unions which had joined the organisation in the 1940s and other black unions had joined the Council of Non-European Trade Unions (CNETU) which reached one hundred and nineteen unions and one hundred and fifty-eight thousand members by 1945. The African National Congress (ANC) as well as the South African Communist Party (SACP) had wanted the African Mine Worker’s Strike to turn into a general strike. The police had put an end to this strike with their brutal means and this had given rise to the National Party (NP).

The SATLC was broken up by 1954. The Trade Council of South Africa had formed and consisted of coloureds, Asians and whites, whilst the blacks were in dependent organisations. Black unions that were independent were excluded from associating with government and other trade unions. The unions from the SATLC had established the South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU) which combined with CNETU

It consists of about 2.2 million members. Most of the workers that form the membership of COSATU are in the mining sector as well as the quarrying sector, which is then followed by electricity, gas, water supply, and social and personal services. This trade union believes in worker control, non-racialism, international worker unity and paid-up membership. It also devotes to the principle, “One country, one federation.” I

FEDUSA is the second largest federation in South Africa. It consists of about 375 000 members. It was formed in 1997 and it is politically non-aligned and represents democracy. NACTU forms the country’s third largest federation. It consists of about 400000 members. It was formed in 1986 and it believes in uniting worker movement, the creation of an equal and just society where workers are not fully controlled by political